# iNaturalist vs Maximum Ability

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iNaturalist at none against Maximum Ability's 4. iNaturalist also leads on chart position (#64 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.2). Maximum Ability's advantage is update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Maximum Ability sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. iNaturalist asks for nothing beyond the download.

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, Maximum Ability daily. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iNaturalist | Maximum Ability |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (684 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **684** | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#64** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 151 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iNaturalist](https://appshunter.io/developer/421397031) | [Maximum Ability](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888812062) |

## What reviewers say

### iNaturalist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inaturalist/id6475737561)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Identify plants, animals, and fungi using your camera or imported photos. Get AI-powered species suggestions and connect with a global community of nature enthusiasts to learn more about the natural world and contribute to scientific conservation efforts.

**Highlights:** AI species identification, Record species observations, Contribute to scientific data, Explore biodiversity, Connect with nature enthusiasts

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faster and more intuitive UI
- 👍 Improved features from website
- 💡 Batch upload and sorting options
- 🚀 Responsive and smooth performance
- 👍 Easier to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with observation time and location
- 🔍 Difficulty finding advanced editing options
- 🔍 Overly complex UI for basic tasks
- 🔍 Removal of useful features like map view
- 🔍 Too much reliance on AI identification

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes when suggesting IDs on audio clips
- Inconsistent tap responsiveness in search menu
- Observation time not accurately filling based on upload time
- Map showing incorrect observation locations
- Crashes and performance issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to type in address/coordinates for location
- Option to add observations to projects during upload
- Batch editing/uploading of observations
- More precise search filters (e.g. aquatic, parasitic, migratory)
- Bring back colored observation markers on map


### Maximum Ability

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maximum-ability/id6761313687)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Single Plan - Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Team Plan - Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Single Plan - Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| Team Plan - Annual | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iNaturalist free?

iNaturalist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Maximum Ability free?

Maximum Ability is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do iNaturalist or Maximum Ability have ads?

Neither iNaturalist nor Maximum Ability shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNaturalist or Maximum Ability?

iNaturalist ships an update fortnightly, and Maximum Ability daily. Most recently, iNaturalist was updated on October 16, 2026 and Maximum Ability on September 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*